Product:Thermographic systems use an infrared camera to produce images (thermograms) that show the patterns of heat and blood flow on or near the surface of the body.

Purpose:The FDA is issuing this communication to alert the public, including women and health care providers, that thermography is not a replacement for screening mammography and should not be used by itself to diagnose breast cancer. The FDA is not aware of any valid scientific data to show that thermographic devices, when used on their own, are an effective screening tool for any medical condition including the early detection of breast cancer or other breast disease.

Public health agencies and national medical and professional societies agree with FDA that mammography is still the most effective method of detecting breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. These organizations include the American Cancer Society1, the American College of Radiology2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention3, the National Cancer Institute4, and the Society for Breast Imaging5.

Summary of Problem and Scope:

Certain facilities, websites, and mobile units are promoting the use of thermography as a stand-alone evaluation tool for screening and diagnosing breast cancer, claiming that is a substitute for or superior to mammography. They also claim that thermography can detect pre-cancerous abnormalities and diagnose breast cancer long before mammography and that compressing the breast during mammography will cause or spread cancer by pushing cancer cells into additional locations in the body. The FDA is concerned that women will believe these misleading claims about thermography and not receive needed mammograms.

Recommendations to Women:

Have regular mammograms according to screening guidelines or as recommended by your health care provider.

Remember that thermography is not a substitute for mammography and should not be used by itself for breast cancer screening or diagnosis.

FDA Activities:This year the FDA has issued the following warning letters for marketing and promoting thermographic devices for uses that have not received marketing clearance or approval. In these warning letters, the FDA has instructed the providers to immediately cease making inappropriate claims about thermography devices.